Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has been involved in discussions about leading a post-war transitional authority in Gaza, the BBC understands. The proposal, which is said to have backing from the White House, would see Blair lead a governing authority supported by the UN and Gulf nations before handing control back to Palestinians.
Blair’s office has stated that he would not support any proposal that displaces the people of Gaza. Sir Tony, who led the UK into the Iraq War in 2003, has been participating in high-level planning discussions with the US and other key parties regarding the future of Gaza.
Reports suggest the plans could involve Blair heading an entity known as the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita). This body would aim to secure a UN mandate to act as Gaza’s primary political and legal authority for a five-year period. The model for this administration is reportedly based on the international oversight bodies that guided East Timor and Kosovo through their transitions to statehood. Initially, Gita would be based in Egypt, near Gaza’s southern border, before moving into Gaza once stability is achieved, operating alongside a multinational peacekeeping force.
This development follows statements from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who expressed readiness to collaborate with President Trump and other world leaders on a two-state peace plan. Abbas has also voiced his opposition to Hamas having a future governing role in Gaza and has called for its disarmament.
The conflict has seen various proposals emerge for Gaza’s future governance. Earlier, Donald Trump had suggested a long-term US ownership position for Gaza, envisioning it as a “Riviera of the Middle East.” However, this idea, which could have led to the forced displacement of Palestinians and potentially violated international law, appears to have been dropped. The US and Israel maintained that any emigration would be “voluntary.”.
In March, US and Israeli authorities rejected an Arab-led proposal for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction. This plan would have allowed the territory’s 2.1 million Palestinian residents to remain in their homes and envisioned a temporary governing committee of independent experts, along with international peacekeepers. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the Arab plan.
More recently, in July, a conference in New York, spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia, put forward a plan for a “transitional administrative committee” for Gaza, to operate “under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority.” Neither the US nor Israel participated in this conference. The proposal, known as the New York Declaration, received support from a majority of the UN General Assembly in a resolution passed earlier this month.
In a related development, the UK, along with France, Canada, Australia, and several other nations, has formally recognized the State of Palestine. While President Abbas thanked these countries, including Denmark (which has stated its recognition is conditional and not yet finalized), Israel and the US criticized this move, viewing it as a “reward for Hamas.”
The ongoing conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israeli military operations in Gaza since then have led to significant casualties, with the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 65,500 fatalities. A UN commission has stated that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an accusation Israel denies.
Related Articles
- Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained
- What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?
- Recognising Palestinian statehood opens another question – who would lead it?
- Palestinians in West Bank stranded as Israel shuts only international crossing
- Palestinian president says ready to work with Trump for two-state peace plan